The Black Swan (B or 3/4 stars)
No, this is not Darren Aronofsky's edgy psycho-thriller Black Swan from 2010. No, this is 'THE Black Swan', a sweeping Technicolor swashbuckler starring Tyrone Power & Maureen O'Hara from 1942. In 'The Black Swan' (directed by Henry King), Tyrone Power plays pirate Jamie-Boy Waring, an aide to the notorious buccaneer, Capt. Henry Morgan (Laird Cregar). The film opens with now ex-pirate Henry Morgan pardoned from the gallows & sent to Jamaica in the Caribbean to be its new governor. Trying to prevent his former pirate "associates" from continuing their villainous ways, Morgan finds resistance from 2 renegade pirates, Capt. Billy Leech (George Sanders) & Wogan (Anthony Quinn). See, Jamie-Boy was ordered to rid the high seas of the rest of the pirates.
But ships bound for Jamaica carrying gold are still being attacked - by Leech/Wogan - but Morgan & Jamie-Boy are getting the blame! Meanwhile, in Jamaica, Jamie-Boy falls for the flamed-haired daughter of the former governor, Lady Margaret Denby (O'Hara) ... but she's quick to deny his bold, brazen advances. To prevent her from marrying someone else the next day, he kidnaps & drags her kicking & screaming onto his own warship -- not the ideal start for a romance, huh? But matters start to change when she starts to fall for him and the 1-2 combo of Capt. Billy Leech/Wogan overpower his ship; forcing Jamie-Boy to fight for the woman he loves. Can Jamie-Boy prove to Lady Margaret that he's not a scumbag, but the man of her dreams? Romance, drama, & swashbuckling fun ensue.
So 'The Black Swan' is fairly entertaining. I love me a good pirate epic. This film offers the same type of story, characters, & dialogue as 1935's Captain Blood (with Errol Flynn & Olivia de Havilland). There are cliches abounding. The plot is thin. There's a lot of political INcorrectness going on {today's feminists would loathe this} -- having said that, this was filmed in 1941-42 Hollywood when such behaviors 'in film' were generally accepted. You know, this movie isn't the be-all-end-all of cinema. Having said that, there is such fun, such vigor, & such good humor at play. This film delivers hijinks, heroics, & romance in spades. And it's just the type of movie that you can escape with to forget to your troubles for a while.
Even though his physique is slim/lightweight and not as beefy as one might expect of a swashbuckling pirate, Tyrone Power is obviously dashing enough, handsome enough & chock full of derring-do (as he was in 1940's The Mark of Zorro). Laird Cregar is very good as the large-framed, bewigged, full-of-bravado Henry Morgan. George Sanders is practically unrecognizable as evil Billy Leech; sporting a thick, curly red wig & beard. Sanders is/was always stellar at playing these types of sleezy, yet civilized villains. Maureen O'Hara is ravishing {no surprise there} and appropriately feisty as the heroine. It doesn't hurt that her chemistry with Power is right-on; they are equally hard-headed spitfires. Every actor/actress in this film is clearly relishing the material they're given -- its fun to watch.
'The Black Swan' is also a beautiful movie to watch. Given the typical 1940's Hollywood treatment, this film thrives on its visuals. Sure, Tyrone Power & Maureen O'Hara are nice to look at. But I'm talking about the technical elements, as well. The Technicolor cinematography is rich and won the Academy Award for 1942. The sets & costumes are lavish. And the sound design - particularly in the explosive sea battle climax - is excellent. So yeah, if you're looking for light drama, rollicking fun, double dealings, corrupt governments, scheming pirates, stolen gold, male bonding, sea battles, courageous heroes, damsels in distress, menacing villains, great swordplay, & a bit of romance ... then despite the basic plot, 'The Black Swan' should be the film for you.
But ships bound for Jamaica carrying gold are still being attacked - by Leech/Wogan - but Morgan & Jamie-Boy are getting the blame! Meanwhile, in Jamaica, Jamie-Boy falls for the flamed-haired daughter of the former governor, Lady Margaret Denby (O'Hara) ... but she's quick to deny his bold, brazen advances. To prevent her from marrying someone else the next day, he kidnaps & drags her kicking & screaming onto his own warship -- not the ideal start for a romance, huh? But matters start to change when she starts to fall for him and the 1-2 combo of Capt. Billy Leech/Wogan overpower his ship; forcing Jamie-Boy to fight for the woman he loves. Can Jamie-Boy prove to Lady Margaret that he's not a scumbag, but the man of her dreams? Romance, drama, & swashbuckling fun ensue.
So 'The Black Swan' is fairly entertaining. I love me a good pirate epic. This film offers the same type of story, characters, & dialogue as 1935's Captain Blood (with Errol Flynn & Olivia de Havilland). There are cliches abounding. The plot is thin. There's a lot of political INcorrectness going on {today's feminists would loathe this} -- having said that, this was filmed in 1941-42 Hollywood when such behaviors 'in film' were generally accepted. You know, this movie isn't the be-all-end-all of cinema. Having said that, there is such fun, such vigor, & such good humor at play. This film delivers hijinks, heroics, & romance in spades. And it's just the type of movie that you can escape with to forget to your troubles for a while.
Even though his physique is slim/lightweight and not as beefy as one might expect of a swashbuckling pirate, Tyrone Power is obviously dashing enough, handsome enough & chock full of derring-do (as he was in 1940's The Mark of Zorro). Laird Cregar is very good as the large-framed, bewigged, full-of-bravado Henry Morgan. George Sanders is practically unrecognizable as evil Billy Leech; sporting a thick, curly red wig & beard. Sanders is/was always stellar at playing these types of sleezy, yet civilized villains. Maureen O'Hara is ravishing {no surprise there} and appropriately feisty as the heroine. It doesn't hurt that her chemistry with Power is right-on; they are equally hard-headed spitfires. Every actor/actress in this film is clearly relishing the material they're given -- its fun to watch.
'The Black Swan' is also a beautiful movie to watch. Given the typical 1940's Hollywood treatment, this film thrives on its visuals. Sure, Tyrone Power & Maureen O'Hara are nice to look at. But I'm talking about the technical elements, as well. The Technicolor cinematography is rich and won the Academy Award for 1942. The sets & costumes are lavish. And the sound design - particularly in the explosive sea battle climax - is excellent. So yeah, if you're looking for light drama, rollicking fun, double dealings, corrupt governments, scheming pirates, stolen gold, male bonding, sea battles, courageous heroes, damsels in distress, menacing villains, great swordplay, & a bit of romance ... then despite the basic plot, 'The Black Swan' should be the film for you.